After several replays, Triple H was walking backstage. Arn Anderson
congratulated Triple H and said that he thought Jeff Hardy had him. As
Triple H walked away, Vladimir Kozlov got in his face and told him
congratulations. They had a staredown until Kozlov walked off as Triple H
watched him.

WWE World champion Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels - Ladder Match

Jericho walked under a ladder set up in the aisle as he came to the ring.
They were pushing hard that Michaels revolutionized the ladder match at
Wrestlemania X. I was there that night and no doubt it was awesome but
it's so sad everyone forgets that great Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart bout that opened
the show and is still, to this day, the best opening match in Wrestlemania
history. I digress.

They did a long staredown at the ball. Michael Cole said, "We are
looking at two of the greatest sports-entertainers of all tim." I hate
that term. They grappled back and forth. Michaels tried for sweet
chin music early but missed. He whipped Jericho into the corner then
missed a charge, his shoulder hitting the ringpost. Jericho maneuvered
Michaels to the mat, where he bridged out. They went back and forth until
Michaels was clotheslined over the ropes and out of the ring. Michaels
landed on the mat where Jericho hit the springboard shoulderblock over the
ropes.

On the floor, Jericho tried to throw Michaels into the ladder but Michaels
scrambled up and dove off it onto Jericho. Jericho whipped Michaels into
the ringpost. Jericho grabbed a ladder in the aisle and charged Michaels
with it, but Shawn hit a drop toehold and Jericho fell forward onto the ladder.
Jericho came up with a bloody lip. Jericho smashed Michaels with the
ladder and locked on a Boston Crab on the floor to wear down Michaels.

Jericho returned to the ring, dragging a ladder into the ring. Michaels
slammed it as the ladder was halfway through the ropes, nailed Jericho as it
swung upwards. Michaels set up the ladder and went towards the top but
Jericho caught him. He tried to powerbomb Shawn, who rolled through.
Jericho tried to catapult Shawn into the ladder but Shawn landed on the rungs
and scrambled up. Jericho tipped the ladder over before he could grab the
belt. Michaels clotheslined himself on the top rope coming down.

Jericho used the ladder as a battering ram then smashed it over Michaels'
back. He set up another ladder in the corner. They teased whipping
each other into it. Jericho reversed the whip and Michaels took a bump
over the turnbuckles and back into the ring. Jericho went for a bulldog
but was sent into the ladder. He screamed and grabbed at his knees.
Michaels set up a ladder across the bottom ropes, then dropped Jericho onto it,
crotching him. Michaels then locked on a figure four, which Michael Cole
called "vintage Ric Flair." When Jericho was released, he kicked the
ladder in the corner, which bounced off the ringpost and nailed Michaels in the
face.

Jericho began smashing Michaels' head into a ladder set up in the center of
the ring. He maneuvered Michaels in between the two sides and slammed it
over his head. Jericho climbed the ladder but Michaels shoved the ladder
over. Jericho landed on his feet and took Michaels out. Jericho set
up a ladder atop one of the corners. He began peppering Michaels with
punches. He charged Michaels towards the ladder but Shawn saved himself
and tossed Jericho atop the ladder. Jericho bumped to the floor.
Michaels picked up the ladder and dropped it out to the floor on Jericho.

Michaels pulled a huge ladder out from under the ring. He began
smashing Jericho's back with a ladder. Michaels set up Jericho on the
Smackdown announce table, then climbed the huge ladder. Jericho began
following Michaels up the ladder. Jericho tried to hit a back suplex off
the ladder but Michaels turned around into a bodypress as they came down through
the table. In the replay, you could see what a nasty bump it was for both.

Michaels grabbed a ladder and was perched on the top turnbuckle to come down
with it on Jericho but Jericho dropkicked Michaels, who crotched himself.
They battled in the corner, teasing a superplex over the ladder but Michaels
shoved the ladder backwards with Jericho bumping off of it. Michaels hit
the picture perfect elbow but nailed the ladder as well and began selling the
elbow.

Michaels pulled himself to his feet and began motioning for sweet chin music.
As he moved in for the kick, Jericho slammed a ladder into Michaels' face.
Jericho nailed the Lionsault. Jericho set up a ladder over Michaels'
chest and climbed to the top. Michaels forced the ladder forward and
Jericho bumped to the floor. He grabbed at his knee and the announcers
wondered if he blew it out. The crowd chanted for HBK.

Michaels set up a ladder and made his way to the top as Jericho crawled back
towards the ring. Michaels made his way to the top but Jericho shoved him
over. Michaels crotched himself and was obviously trying to catch his feet
in the ropes the same way he did at Mania 10 vs. Razor Ramon. Jericho set
up the ladder and made his way back to the top. Michaels reached him as
Jericho grabbed for the ladder. They battled atop the ladder with Michaels
getting the better of it. Jericho fell backwards with his leg caught in
the ladder.

Lance Cade hit the ring and grabbed Michaels. Michaels dove off
the ladder and nailed sweet chin music. Jericho got back to the belt and
Michaels caught him. Jericho unhooked the belt and they each ended up with
half of it for a tug of war. They each tried to pull it from the other.
Michaels pulled Jericho towards him and they headbutt each other. Michaels
bumped off the ladder while Jericho remained on the ladder. Jericho pulled
down the belt and retained.

Your winner and still WWE World champ, Chris Jericho!

It was obvious that Jericho broke at least one tooth during the match as he was walking out.

A great ladder match. Tons of awesome spots and a feeling that they
were trying to beat each other, not fit in 10,000 spots. A really fun main
event to close out the show. The top three matches are all worth checking
out. Overall, a really enjoyable show.

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